Apparatus for supplying charges to heavy turret or barbette guns.



Patented Sept. I8, I900. A. T. DAWSON & J. HORNE.

APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING CHARGES T0 HEAVY TUBRET 0R BARBETTE GUNS.(Application filed Mar. 26, 1900.1

5 Sheets-S heet I.

(No Model.)

m M my 3% l 5%. WJ

No. 658,244. I Patented Sept. l8, I900. A. T. DAWSON &.- J. HORNE.

5 FOR SUPPLYING CHARGES T0 HEAVY TURRET 0R BARBETTE GUNS.

A P P R A T U (Application med Mar. 26, 1900.,

(No Modei.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

ljwm z,

- Patented Sept. l8, I900. A. T. DAWSON &. J. HORNE. APPARATUS FORSUPPLYING CHARGES T0 HEAVY TURRET 0R BARBETTE GUNS.

(Applicacion filed Mar. 26, 1900.;

5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

No. 658,244. Patented Sept. I8, 1900.

v A. DAWSON & J. HORNE. APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING CHARGES T0 HEAVY TURRET0R BARBETTE GUNS.

(Application filed Mar. 26, 1900.

No. 658,244. Patented Sept. l8, I900.

. A. T. DAWSON G. J. HORNE. APPARATUS FOR 'SUPPLYING CHARGES T0 HEAVYTURRET 0R BARBETTE GUNS. A lication filed mar. 26, 1900.1

(No Model.) 5 Sheets$heet 5.

Wal on? 4o ingthe same into in line with the bore .Toapinyon spring inits lower position out of the way of projectileand explosive charge arepassed into the gun.

The amm'unition-cages are raised and lowered preferably by hydrauliccranes; but other. suitable motors might be employed.

The cage 9 abuts against fixed stops on therearward extension of theslide when it asscends to the position where the projectile is of thegun. In order that the cage may keep this position when the gun iselevated or depressed during loading, the change in the length of thecranerope is compensated in the following manner: a downward 'projecttonof the gun-slide at a distance from the axis of the trunnion equal tohalf the distance from the axis of the trunnion to the middle of thecage gwhen it-isin-its highest position is attached a sliding framecarrying a pulley z. The crane-rope '1 is passed down from the pulleyover. the cage around guide-pulleys 2, 3, and

- JL-and around the pulley z to the crane. When interposed between thegun is elevated or depressed, the pin y moves half the distance movedover by'the middle of the cageg, and consequently the pulley gives outor takes up the amount by which the rope has to be lengthened orshortened to suit the change of elevation of the gun, the cage g beingthus to the gun.

Having thus described the nature of this invention and thebest means weknow of carrypractical ettect, we claim- 1.- In an apparatus forsupplying charges to turret or barbette guns, the combination of aturn-table carrying one or more guns, and a trunk or lift-shaft suitablyattached to the said turn-table, of a cage traveling upon the said trunkand provided with a tray top, a pair of inclined a cage 9 adapted totravel upon the said guiderails and provided with a cam-bar, a troughthe cage traveling upon the trunk and the said guide-rails and adaptedto automatically receive a projectile from a, which'moves with the piny, just kept stationary relatively at its and curved guide-rails,

the cage upon the trunk and deliver it to the cage which travels upontheguide-rails, and

a loading-tray connected to the loading-arm of each of thesaid gunsandoperated by the said cam-bar.

2. In an apparatus for supplying charges to turret or barbette guns,avertically-moving cage, a tray carried thereby and mounted upon alongitudinal rocking shaft, an arm I carried by said guide for said arma receiving-trough mounted upon a transverse rocking sh aft, means fortilting said trough, a vertically-moving cage, a cam-bar connectedthereto, and a loadingtray operated by 'said-cam-bar.

3. In an apparatus for supplying charges to turret or barbette guns, thecombination with a turn-table mounting, and a pair of turretshaft, astationary oblique guns, and a chamber arranged under the turn= tablemounting, of a pair of inclined and curved guide-rails, aloading-cagefor projectiles adapted to travel along each guidewail, a trunk orlift-shaft connected to the turn-table mounting, means'operating upon issaid the said trunk or lift-shaft for'tran'sferring a projectile to thesaid loading-cage, a nd a load ing-tray hinged to'the loading-arm ofeachof said guns and automatically operated by said -loading-cage.

4:. In an apparatus for supplying chargesto.

turret or barbette guns, the combination with the turn-table mounting, apair of turret-guns, and a chamber arranged under the said tu rn table,of a pairjof suitably-disposed inclined and curved guide rails, aloading cage for projectiles adapted to travel along each guiderail, anda loading-tray, hinged to the loadloadin'g-cage.

- In testimony whereof we have hereuntoaset 90. ing-arm of eachgun andoperated by'the' said our hands in presence of the subscribing wit-ARTHUR TREVOR Dawson. JAMES HORNE.

Witnesses to the signature of the abovea named James Horne:

W. H. ATKINSON, HAROLD JAMES.

